Jerusalem, the Knesset Residence

Irina Zilberbod

26/02/2006

During January, April and September 2002, and April–May 2003, salvage excavations were conducted in the vicinity of the Knesset residence (Permit Nos. A-3573, A-3888; map ref. NIG 21955–65/63145–55; OIG 16955–65/13145–55). The excavations, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by the Shafir Company, were directed by I. Zilberbod, with the assistance of A. Hajian and T. Kornfeld (surveying) and T. Sagiv and C. Amit (photography).

Two hewn burial caves were discovered on the eastern slope of the Knesset hill. The first burial cave was void of datable finds; however, its plan indicates it can be ascribed to the later part of the SecondTemple period. Some 55 m southwest, a hewn water cistern was uncovered and another cistern was detected c. 10 m northwest of the first one. Artifacts dating from the Late Roman to the Early Islamic periods were found in proximity to the cisterns.

The second burial cave was equipped with loculi (visible from the entrance as it was not excavated) and had a rectangular forecourt (L301; quarried to a depth of c. 2 m; Fig. 1). Along its eastern side, facing the slope, were two broad hewn steps (L303, L304) with a built staircase (L302) in their middle, which led to the courtyard. A stone threshold, not in situ, was found in the center of the courtyard; its width was identical to that of the built steps. Three hewn entrances (L306–L308) were cut in the western wall of the courtyard, opposite the steps. The three entrances led into one cave or perhaps into three separate burial caves. The back side of a stone sarcophagus was discovered while the northernmost entrance was cleaned. A single loculus (L309) was hewn in the middle of the southern side.

The ceramic finds recovered from the cave dated it to the end of the second–third centuries CE.